Band 4.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 4.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-09

IELTS Writing Task 2 question

The best way to provide enough homes in large cities is to build tall apartment blocks.

To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.

Student answer (Band 4.0)

The increasing population in big cities has created a big problem some people thinking building tall apartment block is the best way to provide enough homes

ONE major advantages of tall building can provide housing for a large number of people in a relatively in small area land in big cities is limited and expensive By building upward, we can fit many families in small area For example Lahore and Karachi use high -rise flats to solve housing problems However, there are also problem with the solutions living in tall building can cause overcrowding and traffic issues it is also pressure on electricity ,gas, water, transport service in ad

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 4.0

The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 250 words, reaching only 109 words. Consequently, the development of ideas is severely limited. While the student identifies the core topic and attempts to present both sides of the argument, the ideas are underdeveloped and lack the necessary depth and supporting evidence required for an academic essay. The position is stated but not sustained throughout the text. Due to the significant under-length, the response cannot fully address all parts of the task, resulting in a low score for this criterion.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 4.0

The essay lacks clear paragraphing, which is essential for logical progression. There is a lack of cohesive devices to link ideas; for instance, the transition between the benefits and the drawbacks is abrupt. The text reads more like a collection of fragmented thoughts rather than a structured argument. While some basic logical flow is attempted, the absence of proper sentence structure and paragraph breaks makes the text difficult to follow. The lack of punctuation further hinders the reader's ability to navigate the argument.

Lexical Resource — Band 4.0

The vocabulary is basic and repetitive, relying on simple terms like 'big problem' and 'tall building'. There is little evidence of an attempt to use a wider range of vocabulary or academic collocations. Words are often used inaccurately, such as 'in small area' instead of 'in a small area'. The limited range of vocabulary restricts the ability to express complex ideas effectively. To improve, the student needs to incorporate more precise academic terminology and demonstrate a better grasp of word formation and collocation.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 4.0

The response contains frequent grammatical errors that impede communication. There is a complete lack of punctuation, making it difficult to identify sentence boundaries. Subject-verb agreement is often ignored, and articles are frequently omitted (e.g., 'it is also pressure on electricity'). The sentence structures are predominantly simple and often incomplete. There is no evidence of complex sentence structures, which are necessary for higher band scores. The persistent errors in basic grammar significantly detract from the clarity of the writing.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

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